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February 11, 2021 Resource Bulletin |
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Miss our last email? Past e-bulletins are posted in the left column on both the ABADA and AMHB websites. |
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Substance Misuse & Recovery
As we continue to isolate to slow the spread of COVID-19, it is especially important to approach things one day at a time and to care for pre-existing health concerns such as substance misuse.
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Addiction Medicine ECHO Trainings - ANTHC
2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month, 12:00pm AKST
Next training February 11th (today): Stigma and MAT
Project ECHO and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Behavioral Health partnered to develop a virtual learning network focused on improving delivery of medicine for addiction. If you miss a training, recordings will be posted. For questions email: behavioralhealth@anthc.org.
Click here to learn more and to register:
https://anthc.org/project-echo/addiction-medicine-echo/
Harm Reduction 101 Training - ANTHC
February 24th, 10:30am-12:00pm AKST
This training is part of the 2021 Harm Reduction Series, hosted by ANTHC's Substance Misuse and HIV/STD Prevention Programs. Attendees will receive an introduction to harm reduction, learn about the supplies and resources available in Alaska for people using drugs, and how to implement harm reduction practices in communities.
To register for this training please go to:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/harm-reduction-training-series-harm-reduction-101-tickets-137870411111
Recovery Housing Request For Proposals
Proposals Due: February 19
The Alaska Division of Behavioral Health is seeking proposals from eligible applicants to provide services through the Recovery Housing Program. Recovery Housing refers to safe, healthy, substance-free living, group living environments that support individuals in recovery from addiction. This grant project will fund three new recovery residences that house adults experiencing opioid and/or stimulant misuse/use disorders in Alaska.
For more information, click here:
https://gems.dhss.alaska.gov/Notifications/Solicitations
Overdose Deaths Rising During the Pandemic
The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services released an epidemiology bulletin in December, titled, Indicators of Self-Harm and Unintentional Drug Overdose during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Alaska, addressing the topic of suicide and unintentional drug overdose rates from January-September 2020. To review the data click here: http://www.epi.alaska.gov/bulletins/docs/b2020_15.pdf
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Suicide Prevention & Postvention
Managing our mental health, substance use, and healthy relationships is always important. Physical isolation due to COVID-19 can make this more difficult.
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Alaska Careline
For someone to talk to, call anytime:
1-877-266-4357 (HELP) or text 4help to 839863
3-11 p.m. Tue-Sat
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Mental Health
The relationship between our immune system and mental health is important to consider, especially for people with pre-existing mental and physical health conditions.
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Virtual Alaska School Health and Wellness Institute
February 17th and 24th, 8:00am-12:00pm AKST
This free conference is for teachers, parents, school nurses, counselors, school administrators and staff, school board members, school nutrition staff, and others who work with schools interested in learning to cultivate healthier and more successful students. Topics include Mental Health/Suicide Prevention, School and Family Partnerships, Relationships and Violence Prevention, Substance Misuse Prevention, and more. If you have any questions please reach out to Pat Sidmore pat.sidmore@alaska.gov.
Click here to read the program and to register:
http://dhss.alaska.gov/akshwi/
Impact of COVID-19 on Alaska Families Follow-Up Survey Results
Results are posted from the DHSS Winter survey of Alaska families. While 63% of respondents said their overall emotional health has gotten worse since the pandemic began, about 75% of respondents have shown resiliency by saying that it was very true or somewhat true that they had found new ways to connect with family and friends, had the emotional connections they need, and helped others with financial or practical support.
To view the results click here:
http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/wcfh/pages/mchepi/
Let’s Talk About Eating Disorders with NIMH Grantee Dr. Cynthia Bulik
February 25, 8:30-9:00am AKST
In recognition of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is hosting this event. Eating disorders are serious and often fatal illnesses associated with severe disturbances in people’s eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions. Dr. Bulik will discuss signs, symptoms, treatments, and the latest research.
Click here for more information: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/events/announcements/nimh-livestream-event-lets-talk-about-eating-disorders-with-nimh-grantee-dr-cynthia-bulik.shtml
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Essential Skills Conference
March 5-6, 2021, 8:30am-4:00pm AKST, $235 registration fee
Join the Alaska Eating Disorders Alliance (AKEDA) and Leslie Karwoski Anderson, PhD for two days of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills training for Alaska mental health providers. Attendees will learn how to conduct skills groups and help individual clients apply DBT skills to address suicide ideation, self-harm behaviors, emotion dysregulation and eating disorders. Participants will have access to four monthly one-hour sessions for consultative follow up.
For more information or to register, please visit: https://www.akeatingdisordersalliance.org/event-details/dialectical-behavior-therapy-essential-skills-conference-march-5-6-2021
Save the Date: Virtual Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Institute and the Child, Adolescent, and Family Conference
April 7-13th
This year's conference will be held jointly as usual and will be presented virtually. There will be five days of presentations with renowned national speakers and local experts. The website and registration will be available soon. Click here to download the flyer.
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Alaska Careline
For someone to talk to, call anytime:
1-877-266-4357 (HELP) or text 4help to 839863
3-11 p.m. Tue-Sat
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Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
Many individuals with FASD have a high rate of pre-existing health conditions and often rely on the help of others. Below are resources for individuals and their caregivers.
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Webinar Series: FASD Across the Lifespan
First Wednesday of Each Month
Next session March 3, 6:30-8:00pm AKST
Alaska Center for Resource Families is hosting this 7-part series for caregivers, family members, foster parents, and service professionals, and explores the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure in individuals across the lifespan, from infancy through adulthood.
To register, and review the upcoming topics, click here: https://www.acrf.org/self-study/fasd-across-the-lifespan
Webinar: Supporting Your Child with FASD (Building on Strengths - FASD Family Capacity Building Workshop)
March 9, 6:00-10:30am AKST
Surrey Place, a specialty clinic in Toronto, Canada, is hosting this webinar which will present information about the ten brain domains that may be affected by FASD. During breakout sessions, caregivers will discuss scenarios based on common challenges, examine how these challenges relate to the ten brain domains and learn positive responses to these challenges. The discussion will also explain how to identify symptoms of FASD, provide recommendations for support and help families see the benefits of focusing on their child’s strengths.
To register go here: https://www.surreyplace.ca/fasd-workshops/
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Justice Involved
We are told to practice physical distancing but how does that work for people living in correctional facilities? What support do people have when they return to the community? This section is for topics like these and more.
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Other Resources/Opportunities
If you are an agency or an individual with a great resource or opportunity, send us an email and we'll try our best to include it here or in a section above.
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Alaska Commission on Aging Quarterly Meeting
February 16-18, 8:30am AKST
The Alaska Commission on Aging will hold their quarterly meeting via Zoom. Interested parties are welcome to attend by Zoom or by phone. For more information, please email lesley.thompson@alaska.gov or call 907-465-4793.
Click here for the meeting notice and Zoom link: http://notice.alaska.gov/201240
Virtual Job Fair
March 30-April 2
Join the Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education and the State of Alaska’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development for a statewide virtual job fair. This event is open to the public and will focus on connecting people with disabilities with employers, and will provide an opportunity for employers to meet directly with job seekers at times that are convenient to the employer on an online platform. To be included in this online opportunity, email anchorage.employers@alaska.gov before March 19th.
To download the flyer click here.
Key Campaign
March 1-5, 8:00am-5:00pm AKST (registration required by February 19)
Join the Key Coalition of Alaska for a virtual advocacy event. There will be legislative training sessions as well as opportunities to speak with your legislator.
Click here to register: https://keycampaign.ticketbud.com/key-campaign-2021
Trust Legislative Conference
Every Friday through end of session, 12:15pm AKST
These meetings are non-partisan and intended as informational about bills and budget items that impact Alaska Mental Health Trust beneficiaries (people with mental illness, substance use disorders, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and Alzheimer's disease and related dementia, and traumatic brain injury). The meeting is an opportunity for beneficiaries, family members, providers of services, administrators, and agency staff, to track bills and ask questions about legislation and the legislative process.
For more information email advocacy.coordinator@mhtrust.org, call 907-465-4765, or visit this website:
https://alaskamentalhealthtrust.org/alaska-mental-health-trust-authority/advocacy/joint-advocacy/
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Questions? Comments? 
